BBC censors Paxman's Kennedy interview

Jeremy Paxman's infamous interview with Charles Kennedy in which he quizzed the Liberal Democrat leader about his drinking habits has been censored by the BBC.

Tape of the Newsnight interview has been marked "restricted" and will only be released for rebroadcast on the BBC or other channels in extraordinary circumstances.

The Newsnight presenter issued a rare apology after he quizzed Mr Kennedy on his drinking habits and his motivation for marriage.

Mr Kennedy was asked: "Does it trouble you that every single politician to whom we've spoken in preparing for this interview said the same thing - you're interviewing Charles Kennedy, I hope he's sober?".

The exchange came under fire in the House of Commons, where the leader of the house, Robin Cook, said it showed the BBC was trying to compete with "the bottom end of the market".

Mr Paxman said: "I am sorry if any offence has been caused. Maybe there was one question too many on drink."

However, a BBC insider insisted the decision to single out the interview was standard practice.

"It would have been a routine archiving decision - if you decide that something has legal implications or is off for whatever reason, you put a note on it.

"We have also decided we would not use footage of the September 11 attacks, or the bomb outside the BBC. The issue is whether Jeremy thought - and whether the programme thought - the interview should be replayed lots of times. You have to judge it on its merit."

It means, for example, that the interview will not now be available for use in documentaries or potential profiles on the Lib Dem leader. Neither will the clip be repeated endlessly as part of Paxman's repertoire in upcoming awards ceremonies.

Speaking after the programme was broadcast earlier this month, Mr Kennedy's spokesman said he was "not upset" by the interview.

Another Paxman interview, in which Matthew Parris revealed Peter Mandelson was gay four years ago, has also been restricted.

That has never been repeated - but a still has recently been made available for a book Parris is working on.

The decision to restrict access to the clip will surprise some - Paxman himself has apologised and pointed out there was no complaint from Mr Kennedy following the interview.

Following criticism from the Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee, Paxman also defended his decision to ask Mr Kennedy about his imminent marriage.

In a letter to the Guardian, Paxman said: "My firm personal belief is that a politician's private life is entirely their own affair, unless they choose to make it a public matter.

"Charles Kennedy and his bride-to-be had made precisely that choice, by giving interviews on the subject to press and radio. It therefore became a legitimate (and very brief) subject of conversation."

A BBC spokesman said: "There's not a ban on the Paxman interview being shown. The restriction is simply that before the programme is used it has to be referred to the programme team for permission.

"Almost all programmes have certain restrictions. For instance, factual programmes are precluded from being used in a non-factual setting. It's not unusual for restrictions to be placed on programmes."